Michael Johnson

What do you say of a Michael Johnson run? It's all been said before -- the erectness of carriage, the smoothness of running style, the way the feet barely seem to leave the ground....

Around the first bend, Johnson took a look at the giant replay screen, trying to sight his rivals. He did it again at the second bend -- but this time, he needed to take two, three looks, for no rival was in sight. There was Johnson. Then there was some vast expanse of untenanted acreage. And then a few runners scrambling to keep up.

He then eased off, and eased home with about 10 metres to spare over the field.

And oh yes, smiles -- of quiet satisfaction, it would have been a bit much to see them jumping around in joy after a race like this -- on the faces of the four Americans who maintained the country's hegemony over the distance.